Amazon fined €746 million for violating privacy rules

Amazon has been hit with a fine from the European Union. They will need to pay 746 million euros for processing personal data that’s in violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The tech giant is already planning to appeal against the decision.

Amazon revealed the news in a regulatory filing. In the document, it acknowledges that the Luxembourg National Commission for Data Protection claims Amazon’s processing of personal data did not comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

Amazon wants to defend itself ‘vigorously’

“We believe the CNPD’s decision to be without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously in this matter”, the ecommerce giant says in the filing [pdf].

The GDPR’s aim is to protect people’s control and rights over their personal data.

The GDPR is a regulation in EU law that came into force in May 2018. Its aim is to enhance the control and rights of EU citizens over their personal data. For example, companies need to seek people’s consent before they use their personal data. If they don’t, they can face some serious fines.

‘The fine is entirely out of proportion’

Politico cites an Amazon spokesperson who said that Amazon strongly disagrees with the ruling. “The decision relating to how we show customers relevant advertising relies on subjective and untested interpretations of European privacy law, and the proposed fine is entirely out of proportion with even that interpretation.”